By MacKenzie Reagan
Singer-songwriter Garland Jeffreys, fresh off performing with Bruce Springsteen at the Light of Day Foundation‘s Parkinson’s research benefit concert, chats about his influences, his performing style and hanging out with Lou Reed. He performs this Friday at Jammin’ Java on Jan. 29.
Q: You’re of Puerto Rican and African-American descent, and you grew up in Brooklyn. How does your upbringing influence your music?
A: It’s affected my songwriting in a major way when it comes to how race has influenced it. My grandmother came from Puerto Rico; My mother was born in the States. I had quite an interesting family, to say the least. But the music itself does not come from any of that. Early on in my career, I started writing songs about issues, and the race issue took hold early. When I was in public school, I remember going into a candy store and the guy in the store says, “What are you doing here?” It was a racial issue right away. He didn’t say, “Get out of here, Blackie,” but it was very clear. Those kind of comments came later. I think it’s incredible when young kids use the n-word. I can’t handle it. It should be abolished from all languages in every form, the n-word. It’s a horror of a word, and when I started to hear that word early, it just repelled me. I like how I talk about the issue of race. I’m always hoping for improvement, I’m always hoping for things to change. I’m always doing what I can in that area.
Q: When you were at Syracuse, you knew Lou Reed.
A: Lou and I became buddies early on in my year. He left school earlier than me. We met, and we’d spend a lot of time at the Orange [Bar, near Syracuse] with Delmore [Schwartz, the famous poet], so that was fantastic. Lou and I, we became friends until his passing. Friends all these years, we really dug each other. We were really close friends.
Q: Your 1973 song “Wild in the Streets” is perhaps your best-known work. What was the inspiration behind that song?
A: I remember specifically, I was making an album at that time, this kid—this girl—got thrown off a roof in Harlem, in the Bronx, and I never forgot it. I went into the studio, and I made that album. That song has followed me around. It’s been played for years, and here it is, coming back into the world. [The song features prominently on the upcoming Netflix show The Get Down, a drama series about New York’s music scene in the ’70s.]
Q: You’ve been performing since the ’60s. What are some moments that stand out?
A: I played [The Light of Day benefit concert] last night [Jan. 17] at Asbury Park, which I’ve been doing every year for 16 years in an effort to [help find a cure for] Parkinson’s Disease—My mother-in-law has it. So we’ve gathered around each year with a bunch of people, sometimes Bruce [Springsteen], sometimes others, we play a whole show. We had a great time, me and my band. [Over the years,] I think we’ve sent a couple million to [support Parkinson’s research.]
Q: How have you grown as a performer over the years?
A: I’m very confident as a performer, and I think that’s the real issue. if you’re confident as a performer, then you’re not afraid to be spontaneous at shows. I’m fortunate; I’m a very good performer. There’s always something to learn. I’m never bored. It’s something that I love. It’s a fortunate thing. I’ve taught class; I could do a number of things. I could have been a professor probably in some field, but music has been the greatest thing for me.
Q: You said there’s always something to learn. What have you learned?
A: You learn subtleties. You don’t have to push so hard on stage sometimes. I like to go out into the audience; I see that people really like that. I’m very much interested—I have an entertainment part of me. I’m there for the audience. I’m there to perform and do my best. I see that as paramount. People pay money to come see you perform, so you go on stage, and you put it out there. In all parts of life, my statement is that people should really do their best to try and find something they love. There will be arduous times, but we want to have joy, pleasure. I’m very happy in my marriage; I’m very happy with my child who’s a musician. She’s 19, she’s really very talented, and she’s a smart girl; You’re talking to a very happy guy. I don’t feel down. I don’t feel sad. I feel for others. I’m interested in the well-being of other people. That’s a crucial thing for me. I do love mankind despite some of the mistakes people make, the racial issues. I still believe in improving and changing, meaning I can see that others can do that. That’s the kind of guy I am.